Capahas crank up offense in opening-round triumph

WICHITA, Kan. -- What slump?

That's what the Austin (Texas) Gold Sox must have been thinking Monday after they were pounded 10-2 by the Cape Girardeau Craftsman Union Capahas in the opening round of the National Baseball Congress World Series.

The Capahas entered the tournament mired in a serious batting funk. But they broke out with 17 hits Monday in advancing to a second-round game Saturday against an opponent to be determined later this week.

"We talked about it before the tournament -- on paper this is a really tough team to pitch to," Bolen said. "I knew we could bust out at any time. We've got too many good hitters to be struggling like we were.

"I'm not going to say we're out of it until we do it two games in a row. But we really hit the ball well."

The Capahas are 28-9. The Gold Sox fell to 28-7.

Chris Sledge went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and two runs batted in to lead the Capahas.

Zach Borowiak and Denver Stuckey each went 3-for-5. Borowiak scored three runs and Stuckey crossed the plate twice.

Brian Hopkins and Jake Tippee both had two hits and two RBIs. Tippee joined the Capahas for the World Series after playing this season for the St. Louis Printers.

Richie Phillips (6-1) pitched eight innings. The veteran right-hander allowed eight hits and two runs, with seven strikeouts and four walks. Mark Frazier hurled a scoreless ninth, allowing one hit.

"Richie was simply fantastic," Bolen said. "They really had a tough time with him."

The Capahas, who never trailed, broke a 1-1 tie by scoring five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. The uprising featured six hits, including a two-run single by Tippee.